Tray structure for bottles and other articles



Nov. 22, 1960 H. w. FORRER TRAY STRUCTURE FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER ARTICLES 5 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed April 23, 1958 JTTUPNEMS Nov. 22, 1960 H. w. FORRER TRAY STRUCTURE FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed April 25, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jlll IN V EN TOR.

IIIIIIII! 1100/1/11 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Nov. 22, 1960 H. w, FORRER TRAY STRUCTURE FOR BOTTLES .AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed April 23, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. HOME/P m F'QRRER BY rgz -m 64w;

ATTORNEKS Nov. 22, 1960 H. w. FORRER TRAY STRUCTURE FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 23, 1958 R m w m Nov. 22, 1960 H. w. FORRER 2,961,143

TRAY STRUCTURE FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed April 23, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HOMER I44 FOIPPEI? ATTORNEYS United States Patent O TRAY STRUCTURE FOR BDTTLES AND OTHER ARTICLES Homer W. Forrer, Atlanta, Ga, assignor to Mead Packaging, Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 730,336

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-28) This invention relates generally to tray structures and more particularly to a structure of this sort that may be formed entirely of paperboard while providing excellent strength and affording exceptional advantages in formation and use. p

The tray structure of the present invention is illustrated and described further below in relation to an embodiment arranged especially for containing a group of bottles standing endwise therein, such as a group formed by four 6-bottle carrier cartons loaded and placed in the tray structure. The characteristic features of the invention, however, are generally applicable for advantageous use wherever a tray structure of the type involved is needed.

Briefly stated, the tray structure provided according to the present invention comprises a bottom pad member, a framing skeleton standing on the pad member, and an outer covering wrap assembled over the pad member and framing skeleton and secured to the latter in a manner that facilitates substantially the operation of assembfing the structure and also forms a uniquely tight and strong assembly.

These and other features of the present invention are described in detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a completely assembled tray structure embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the tray structure shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially at the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially at the line 4--4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the form of blank employed for the outer covering wrap of the tray structure shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the framing skeleton and bottom pad member placed on the outer covering wrap blank in preparation for assembling the tray structure;

Fig. 7 is a further perspective view corresponding generally to Fig. 6, but illustrating the manner in which corner flaps of the outer covering wrap blank are interlocked with the framing skeleton in the course of the assembly operation; and

Fig. 8 is another perspective view corresponding generally to Figs. 6 and 7, and illustrating the arrangement of the tray structure just prior to the final assembly step by which the Fig. 1 form of the tray structure is obtained.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and more particularly at first to Figs. 1 through 4, the previously mentioned bottom pad member of the illustrated tray structure is indicated by the reference numeral 10, the framing skeleton by the general reference numeral 12, and the outer covering wrap by the general reference numeral 14.

The bottom pad member 10 is rectangular in form and corresponds generally in length and width with the size of the particular tray structure involved; and is relatively thick so as to form a stable and more or less rigid base in the tray structure. This pad member 10 may be formed of heavy paperboard, or of pressed fiberboard, or of plastic, or of any other suitable material desired or required under given circumstances.

The framing skeleton 12 serves primarily the purpose of providing the means on which the end and side walls of the tray structure are formed about the perimeter of the bottom pad member 10. For this purpose, the framing skeleton 12 employed in the illustrated embodiment comprises a medial strut portion formed by a pair of panels 16 foldably joined at their top edges and doubled and secured (as by staples 16') in face-to-face relation, with component side wall panels 18 foldably extending from both ends of each of the medial strut panels 16, and with an end wall panel 20 extending from one component side wall panel 18 on each medial strut panel 16 and secured to the other component Wall panel 18 thereon at a foldably securing flap 22 by means of staples 22' or the like (see Figs. 6 and 7).

The framing skeleton 12 also preferably comprises, as seen in Figs. 1, 6, 7 and 8, an additional medial strut member formed by a pair of panels 24 foldably joined at their top edges and doubled and secured (as by staples 24') in face-to-face relation with pairs of foldabl-e flaps 26 extending oppositely from the respective ends of the strut panels 24; these end flaps 26 being provided for disposition at the inner faces of the framing skeleton end wall panels 20, and the medial strut panels 24 being proportioned in length to extend between the end wall panels 20 transversely of the medial strut panels 16, the latter being slotted from their top edges as indicated at 28 and the latter from their bottom edges as indicated at 30 for internested crossing of the pairs of strut panels 16 and 24 centrally of the tray structure.

The above described arrangement of the framing skeleton 12 makes it possible also to form this portion of the tray structure serviceably of paperboard too, although other materials may be used for this purpose as well and the framing skeleton might be otherwise arranged so long as the primary end and side wall framing function described is provided.

The outer covering wrap 14 is arranged, as seen best in Fig. 5, with a centrally located rectangular panel portion 32 on which opposed pairs of panel portions 34 and 36 are foldably joined at scores extending along substantially the entire perimeter of the rectangular center portion 32. Each of the panel portions 34 and 36 have substantially medial double scores 34' and 36' formed therein parallel to the adjacent perimeter of the center portion 32 so as to define outwardly arranged panel portions 38 and 40 therein which become inner end and side panels in the completed tray structure as is explained further presently.

The rectangular dimensions of the outer covering wrap center panel portion 32 are proportioned to exceed those of the bottom pad member 18, and the end edge portions of the panels 34 and 36 between the perimeter of the center panel portion 3- and the medial scores 34' and 36' parallel thereto are defined by angled scores 42 and 44 inclined inwardly in the direction extending away from the center panel portion 32. At the angled scores 42 defining the end edges of the end panel portions 34 corner flaps 46 are foldably joined with an angled inclination perpendicular to the angled scores 42. These corner flaps 46 are further scored transversely at 48 intermediate their length and have slit tabs 50 aligned at the score lines 48 and extending therefrom toward the end wall panel portions 34.

The side wall panel portions 36 also have flap portions 52 foldably joined at the angled end edge scores 44 there of, the outline of these corner flaps 52 being cut partially out of the end wall corner flaps 46 as seen in Fig. 5. In addition, the end wall panel portions 38 have end flap portions 54 foldably joined thereto, and these tend wall panel portions 33 aretnotched-to provide aclearance slot 56, for fitting over the medialstrut'memher formed by the panels 24, and to provide a hand hold, aperture 58; while the related end wall panels 34 are likewise formed with registering hand hold apertures at 60. Finally, the side wall panel portions 4-34) have clearance slots 62 formed therein for fitting over the medial-strut panels 16.

The manner in which this blank for the outercovering wrap 14 is arranged for assembly with the bottompad member and framing skeleton 12 isillustrated in Fig. 6, in which the pad member 10 'is shown superimposed at the center panel portion32 with the framing skeleton 14 standing thereon in alignment at the bottom pad perimeter.

Fig. 7 shows the initial steps of folding the outer covering wrap 14 into assembled relation with the bottom pad member 10 and framing skeleton 12, which steps con sist of folding the end wall panel portions 34 upwardly against the adjacent end wall panels 20 of the framing skeleton 12, while folding the corner flaps 46 on the end wall panel portions 34 inwardly at the sides of the framing skeleton 12 for securing thereto by flexing the corner flaps 46, at the intermediate scores 48 therein, to extend the slit tabs 50 laterally therefrom for securing insertion through openings in the framing skeleton side wall panels 18 which openings are provided at the extending end of slit tabs 64 formed in the side wall panels 18 with an extent directed toward the ends of the framing skeleton l2 and terminating in substantial alignment with the intermediate scores 48 in the corner flaps 46 at the inwardly folded disposition thereof.

Upon such insertion of the corner flap 'tabs 50, the full extent of the corner flaps 46 can be extended fiat against the adjacent side wall panels 18 of the framing skeleton 12 to allow subsequent upward folding of the outer covering wrap side wall panels 36 as seen in Fig. 8, the portions 40 of these panel portions beyond the medial score lines 36 therein being further folded inwardly of the framing skeleton 12 so as to complete the assembly of inner and outer covering wall panels thereover.

It then remains to fold the end panel portions 38 beyond the medial score lines 34' in the outer wrap end panels 34 to form inner and outer covering wall panels at the ends of the tray structure. In this connection, it should be noted that the framing skeleton end wall panels 20 and the end flaps 26 on the medial strut panels 24 are also formed with hand hold apertures as indicated at 66 and 68 in registration with the hand hold apertures 58 and 60 in the covering wrap end panel portions 34 and 38 so that hand holds extending completely through the end walls are provided in the completed tray structure as seen in Fig. 1. The medial strut panels 24 are preferably notched as indicated at 79 to provide clearance for easy access to these hand hold apertures, and finishing plates 72 are preferably seated in covering relation over the composite edges of the hand hold apertures and clinched in place thereat for completing the assembly of the outer covering wrap 14 on the framing skeleton 12 and bottom pad member 10.

By such an arrangement, the covering wrap end panel portions 34 and 38 are positively secured in place by the finishing plates 72 as welltas by the engagement of the corner flaps 46 thereon with the framing skeleton 12, and the end flaps 54 on the inner covering wrap end panels 38 serve to hold the inner covering wrap side panels 43 securely in assembled relation on the framing skeleton 12. At the same time, however, it is only necessary to remove the clinched finishing plates 72, in order to allow removal of a damaged or soiled 'outer covering wrap 14for replacement readily by a fresh one. Onthe'otherihand,

.such replacement is not apt to be required frequently because of the arrangement of the outer covering wrap 14 with a rectangular center portion of sufliciently greater dimensions than that of the bottom pad member 10 so that the end and side wall covering wrap panel portions assemble over the framing skeleton 12 with an inwardly inclined disposition of the outer end and side panel portions 34 and 36 that has the effect of eliminating any undue rubbing between the sides of adjacent tray structures during handling and thereby minimizes the possibilities for damaging or soiling the side walls of the tray structure during such handling. This inwardly inclined disposition of the tray structure end and side Walls also provides for stacking of the tray structures readily upon one another when empty or when containing a load that does not extend above the upper edges thereof.

It should be noted further in this connection that the particular tray structure illustrated 'in the drawings has the medial strut panels 16 and 24 arranged therein to form four compartments particularly arranged for receiving 6-bottle cartons, as previously mentioned, in which case the carton grouped bottles as arranged in the tray structure would stand therein with the capped upper neck portions thereof extending above the top edges of the tray structure, and when the tray structure is intended for such use the bottom portion 32 of the outer covering wrap 14 is advantageously formed with apertures 74 proportioned to receive the capped tops of the bottles and arranged ina pattern corresponding with the grouping of the bottles in the tray structure, so that this apertured bottom portion 32 serves to engage the tops of bottles in a like tray structure for stable stacking of a group of loaded tray structures.

The present invention has been described in detail above for purposes of illustration only and'is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article of the character described comprising a bottom pad member, an upright framing skeleton standing on said padmember, and a paperboard outer wrap including a bottom wall portion disposed'in covering relation over the outer face of said bottom pad and outer and inner end and side wall portions folded over said'framing skeleton, the bottom Wall portion of said cover'irigwrap being proportioned in relation to the upright'standing disposition of said framing skeleton on said pad member whereby at least said outer end wall portions are fixed at an inwardly inclined position upon folding of said covering wrap over said framing skeleton, and the outer wall portions adjacent the inclined outer wall portions being formed with converging side edges, the inclination of said converging side edges substantially corresponding'to the inclination of said inclined outer wall portions, whereby the adjacent side edges of adjacent outer wall portions are substantially coextensive.

2. An article of the character described comprising an upright framing skeleton having side and end wall portions, and a paperboard cover wrap having a rectangular bottom wall portion dispo-sedbeneath said framing skeleton with opposed pairs of outer and inner end and side wall portions extending from said bottom wall portion in covering relation over said framing skeleton and secured thereto, with at least one of the rectangular dimensions of the bottom wall portion exceeding the corresponding dimension of said upright framing skeleton whereby at least one pair of said outer wall portions is fixed at an inwardly inclined position with respect to the perimeter of said bottom wall portion upon securing of said cover wrap over said framing skeleton, and theouter wallportions adjacent the inclined outer wall portions being formed with converging side edges, the inclination of said converging side edges substantially corresponding to'the inclination of .said inclined outer wallportions, whereby the adjacent side edges of adjacent outer wall portions are substantially coextensive.

3. An article of the character described comprising a side and end Wall framing skeleton, and a paperboard cover wrap having a rectangular bottom wall portion disposed beneath said framing skeleton with opposed pairs of outer and inner end and side wall portions extending from said bottom wall portion in covering relation over said framing skeleton and secured thereto, one pair of said cover wrap outer wall portions having foldable corner flaps extending endwise therefrom, said corner flaps having tabs slit therein in alignment with transverse score lines from which said tabs extend toward said outer wall portions, and said framing skeleton is slit for securing insertion of said corner flap tabs therethrough in substantial alignment with the transverse score lines at which said tabs are hinged.

4. An article of the character described as defined in claim 3 and further characterized in that said corner flaps extend angularly endwise from said outer wall portions with an inclination in the direction of the upper edges thereof and thereby act to fix said outer wall portions at an inwardly inclined position with respect to the perimeter of said cover wrap bottom wall portion upon securing insertion of said corner flap tabs through said framing skeleton slits.

5. An article of the character described as defined in claim 3 and further characterized in that the other pair of said cover wrap outer wall portions is formed with fold able corner tabs doubled inwardly at the ends thereof.

6. A paperboard blank adapted to form a cover wrap for an article of the character described, said blank comprising a centrally arranged rectangular panel portion, opposed pairs of panel portions foldably joined at scores along substantially the entire perimeter of said rectangular panel portion and substantially medially scored for folding parallel to the edges of said rectangular panel portion, flap portions foldably joined to the edges of said panel portions along angled scores inclined inwardly from the rectangular panel portion of said medial score, the flap portions joined to the panel portions of one of said pairs extending angularly therefrom with an inclination directed away from said other pair of panel portions, and the panel portions of said one pair having end tabs hinged thereon at the edges thereof beyond said angled scores.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,112 Means et al. Nov. 29, 1938 2,191,180 Reaume Feb. 20, 1940 2,206,314 Werner July 2, 1940 2,326,926 Bureau et al Aug. 17, 1943 2,535,493 Gerber Dec. 26, 1950 2,728,485 Howard Dec. 27, 1955 

